Wixon: Duncanville girls score last 11 points in OT, oust MacArthur

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Kelley Chinn/Special Contributor

Duncanville sophomore guard Ariel Atkins (12, center, facing camera) hugs her coach Cathy Self-Morgan (left) and her teammates after they defeated Irving MacArthur to become Class 5A Region I champions and advancing to the state tournament at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center on Saturday, February 25, 2012.

Pantherettes rely on team defense on MacArthur's Alexis Jones to reach state tourney

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FORT WORTH — After Duncanville lost in the Class 5A
regional semifinals last year, coach Cathy Self-Morgan made her team come back
the following day and watch Irving MacArthur win the regional title. She wanted
her players to see what it takes to make it to the state tournament.

On Saturday, Duncanville had a happier final day at Wilkerson-Greines
Activity Center. The Pantherettes showed they have what it takes in a 62-55
overtime victory over 5A defending champion MacArthur.

Duncanville used team defense to slow down All-American Alexis Jones — at
least a little — and showed the resilience to battle back after Jones scored the
first four points in overtime. But most important, Duncanville had a deep set of
talented players, even after starting forward Kiara Perry fouled out, to score
the final 11 points of the game.

“Alexis is an All-American,” Self-Morgan said. “We had to do it as a
team.”

Duncanville (38-1) did it as a team, with Ariel Atkins (15), Empress
Davenport (12) and Perry (12) all scoring in double figures. MacArthur (35-3),
which was trying to become the first 5A team to win back-to-back state titles
since Mansfield won four straight from 1999 to 2002, was led by Jones, who had
31 points and 13 rebounds.

Jones’ teammates have always been great in a supporting role, but
Duncanville’s strength was in numbers. That was especially true on defense,
where Davenport was the primary defender on Jones but got lots of help. Every
time Jones drove the lane, at least one Duncanville defender helped Davenport.
When Jones spun in the lane, two or three Pantherettes blocked her path and
sometimes stole the ball.

“It was really physical,” said Jones, a McDonald’s All-American who has
signed with Duke. “There was a lot of holding and stuff going to the hoop. But
that’s part of being a good basketball player. You have to fight through
that.”

The game was a fight throughout. It included 16 lead changes, and no team led
by more than four until Perry scored on a short jumper to make the score 45-40
with 4:30 left in regulation. MacArthur battled back, and Jones sent the game to
overtime with a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left.

Jones also scored the first four points of overtime, and Perry fouled out.
But Duncanville battled back with defense by forcing a pair of turnovers.
Antoina Robinson, who came in to replace Perry, blocked a Jones shot and scored
twice in the lane to give Duncanville a 56-55 lead with 1:10 left.

Duncanville forced another turnover, Morgan Bolton scored on a layup, and
after Jones missed a 3-point attempt, Davenport and Tasia Foman combined for
four free throws to ice the game.

“We wanted this so bad,” said Davenport, a Texas signee. “This is my fourth
year on varsity, and I couldn’t leave Duncanville without a ring. I’ve got to
have a ring.”

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